Herbs, shrubs and trees, usually of seasonal climates and on light rich places. Leaves opposite, simple, on twigs that are slightly winged or four-ridged when young. No stipules, but sometimes small glands at the nodes near the twig apex. Flowers are placed in terminal open inflorescences, colourful but no smell, bisexual, radially symmetric, with the sepals forming a lobed, cup-shaped calyx, petals clawed, free, wrinkled, ovary usually superior, with 3-4-locules. Fruit a dry capsule enclosed by persistent floral tube, seeds winged or not, numerous.
General info
Distribution Pan-tropical. About 600 species in 30 genera. Ecology Mostly seasonal forests and open, light rich places (long lived pioneers). Almost completely absent in everwet forests. Some genera common in mangroves. Uses Ornamentals, timber, dyes. Similar to Crypteroniaceae, but these have unisexual flowers. Melastomataceae (Memecylon), but these have translucent dots and an inferior ovary.
Family description
Herbs, shrubs and trees, usually of seasonal climates and on light rich places.Leaves opposite, simple, on twigs that are slightly winged or four-ridged when young. No stipules, but sometimes small glands at the nodes near the twig apex.
Flowers are placed in terminal open inflorescences, colourful but no smell, bisexual, radially symmetric, with the sepals forming a lobed, cup-shaped calyx, petals clawed, free, wrinkled, ovary usually superior, with 3-4-locules.
Fruit a dry capsule enclosed by persistent floral tube, seeds winged or not, numerous.
General info
Distribution Pan-tropical. About 600 species in 30 genera.Ecology Mostly seasonal forests and open, light rich places (long lived pioneers). Almost completely absent in everwet forests. Some genera common in mangroves.
Uses Ornamentals, timber, dyes.
Similar to Crypteroniaceae, but these have unisexual flowers. Melastomataceae (Memecylon), but these have translucent dots and an inferior ovary.
Treated genera
Myrtales.pdf
Duabanga moluccana
Lagerstroemia speciosa